It was nearly twilight as Howie stood on the pitcher’s mound in Cow Field.  He was saying goodbye to his childhood.  He and Emily had had some great times here.  He would miss his old friend.

For one last time, he pretended that he was a major league pitcher – called in to save the big game.  He looked in for a sign.

But, he did not see a big league catcher down behind home plate.  He saw Emily as she used to look.  Her hair was in a ponytail.  She wore jeans and an old white shirt of her father.

He shook his head.  He would not have time for baseball anymore.  Next fall he would be in the college.  He did not get into the premed school that he wanted.  The school turned him down because he had a suspension of his record.  But the local school was a good one and he would work hard to transfer after two years.

Well, he could not stay out here all night.  He had responsibilities - places to go and things to do.

Hunching his shoulders, he walked off the mound and towards his home.

As he walked past the back Hinton home, he looked up and saw a light on in Emily’s room.  He did not call out, as he would have done past.  He just lowered his head and walked on around to the path between the two houses and up the front porch …of Emily’s house.

He knocked on the door.

Mr. Hinton answered it.

“Hello, sir,” Howie said.  “Is Emily ready to go to the prom.”

Before her father could answer, Emily bounded to the door.

“Howie, I saw you out on Cow Field.  You were there ever so long.”

Howie just gazed at Emily.  “Em, you look beautiful.”

She wore a green prom dress.  She know that green was Howie's favorite color.  Her hair hung down to her shoulders.  Its soft curls shimmered strawberry and gold in the porch light.

Mr. Hinton handed Emily a wrap and said, “Here, this is in case you get cold.  You two have a fun time.”  He gave Howie that look that only fathers can give.  “Howie, take good care of her and have her back at a reasonable hour.”  Then he looked at Emily and smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said, “And, Emily, you can determine what is a reasonable time.”  And he shut the door on the both of them.

“What is that you have in your hand, Howie?”

“Oh,” said Howie, “it is a corsage.  It’s for you”

“It’s for me?  Are you sure that it is not for Karen Switzer?”

“Ah, Em!”

“I'm sorry, Howie,” laughed Emily.  “Sometimes I just can’t help teasing you.  Will you pin it on for me?”

Howie tried to pin it without touching or sticking anything that he shouldn’t.  He was sweating like a pig be the time he had accomplished it.

“Whew,” he said.  “They ought to make those things with tape.  Now, I am too tired to dance.”

“Howie, you are going to dance every dance with me – or I will slug you.”

“That convinced me,” Howie laughed.  “I’ll do what ever you say.”

“I have Dad’s car so we can drive to the prom.”

“Howie, Its not far and I would rather walk.”

“That’s OK, I would like that too.”

They started down the walk hand in hand.

Emily repeated, “I saw you out in Cow Field from my window.  What were you doing out there.”

“Remembering,”

“Remembering what, Howie?”

“Years of playing with the least boring, most moody, unpredictable, irritating, stubborn, and most wonderful girl I have ever known.”

“She sounds nice,” giggled Emily.  “Take me there.”

“Where?”

“To Cow Field.”

“Now?”

“Yes!  We have time.”

They walked out onto the field.

“We had some wonderful times here,” said Emily.

“Look”, said Howie, “There is Venus.  Are you going to make a wish?”

“I don’t need a wish, Howie.  But if I did – I would wish that you would shut up and kiss me.”

He did!

“Wow!” said Emily.

“Wow!” said Howie.  “Why haven’t we done that before?”

“Because you are a male, silly, and males are always slow.  I have known that you would be my boyfriend since I was only five and you were only six.”

“Zen?” Ask Howie.

“Love!” answered Emily.

They hugged.

“It beats baseball doesn’t it?” said Emily.

“It beats dancing doesn’t it?

“Howard Thomas Throckmorton, you are going to spend the night dancing with me and I don’t want any arguments about it.” 

She punched him in the arm.

“Yes, Emily.” Howie sighed.

Life was good.

Back in the Hinton kitchen, Easter Hinton smiled and closed the curtains to give them some privacy.